Newington Road Needs a Sidewalk - FAQ Page

Yes, there are several schools very close to Newington Road that residents and their kids cannot safely access without a sidewalk including Red Wagon Learning Center, Northern Virginia Academy of Early Learning, and Island Creek Elementary School.

The lack of a sidewalk creates more traffic congestion in the community and at schools. When parents are forced to drive kids to schools, it causes traffic problems around schools and, according to Fairfax County Public Schools, makes it "more difficult for student walkers and bicyclists to get to school."

Yes, Levelle Dupell Park is a Fairfax County Park located less than 0.25 mile away but instead of a 3 minute walk to the park, residents have to drive a car to get there because there is no sidewalk to get there.

Yes, Landsdowne Centre and Hilltop Village are less than a mile away and have more than 45 destinations including day cares, grocery stores, pharamacies, doctor offices, cafes, dentists, restaurants, and more. Residents cannot safely walk to any of these places because there is no sidewalk. Fairfax County's Kingstowne Center for Active Adults and Kingstowne Library also are less than a mile away but residents cannot safely walk to them because there is no sidewalk.

Yes, at the end of Newington Road, there is a Fairfax County Connector bus stop for the 334 bus. This bus helps residents safely travel without a car and goes to Franconia-Springfield Metro station.

Yes, the Newington United States Post Office is located a mile from Newington Road at 8253a Backlick Rd but residents cannot safely walk there because there is no sidewalk.

Yes, scientists have found that pedestrians are three times more likely to be hit on a road with no sidewalk. (Abou-Senna et al. 2022)

No, it is lined with single family residential development at suburban density levels.

Increase safety: Newington Road is extremely dangerous for pedestrians, seniors, children, dog walkers, joggers, and anyone not traveling in a car. Adding a sidewalk will enable residents to have a safe way to travel in their community, to parks, to schools, to public transit, and to activity centers. Currently, residents cannot safely get to these places without driving a car even though most of them are less than a mile away.

Reduce traffic: Residents in the Newington Road community are forced to drive places that are less than a mile away: they have to drive to their local park, drive to the local library, drive to the bus stop down the road, drive to their neighbors house to visit them, drive to activity centers to learn and socialize, drive to schools and daycares, drive to the pharmacy, drive to the grocery store, drive to restaurants. All of this driving contributes to very bad traffic congestion in the area. With a sidewalk, residents could walk to all of these places.

Decrease emissions and pollution: If residents did not have to drive their cars to the park, schools, library, grocery store, and more, emissions and pollution would decrease. This is more sustainable and would contribute to better air quality.

Improve health: Residents around Newington Road cannot safely walk without a sidewalk and must use a car for nearly every purpose instead of walking. This lack of physical activity has negative consequences for people's health. Fairfax County states: "Physical inactivity is a major contributor to the steady rise in rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic health conditions in the United States."

Yes, the following local businesses have signed on in support of a sidewalk on Newington Road:

Bella Ballerina Kingstowne
Chalkboard Wings & BBQ Restaurant
Chi Mc Chicken Restaurant
CMAA Capitol Martial Arts Academy
Coffee In
CVS (Landsdowne)
Dairy Queen (Landsdowne)
Donna Nails and Spa
Fair Winds Brewing Company
Gunston Deli and Grill
Kumon Math and Reading Center
Mission BBQ
Northern Virginia Learning Academy
Olympians Family Restaurant
The Pate Wagon
Pho Bowl
Puzukan Korean BBQ
StarFit Studio
The Burger Shack
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Wagon Wheel
Woof Gang Bakery

Yes it is. The stretch of Newington Road in question is included in the Fairfax Countywide Trails Plan Map and should have a "Minor Paved Trail" for pedestrians and bicyclists. The County has not built this.

Yes, Fairfax County has approved $100 million for "investments in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure that will have long-term, meaningful impacts on accessibility, and safety in the community."

Yes, this 0.4 mile segment of Newington Road that does not have a sidewalk is a "missing link" or "gap" between existing sidewalks on Cinderbed Road and Telegraph Road. Fairfax County has stated that this gap with no sidewalk creates "an extremely dangerous situation for bicyclists and pedestrians along this segment."

Yes, the plan for a sidewalk on Newington Road has been endorsed by The Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling (FABB), the Mount-Vernon Chamber of Commerce, the South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, and the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce.

Yes, the plan for a sidewalk on Newington Road has been endorsed by Fairfax County Mount Vernon Supervisor Daniel Storck, Virigina Delegate Kathy Tran, Virginia Delegate Mark Sickles, and Virginia Senator Scott Surovell.

You can help by emailing and calling Fairfax County and telling them you support safety and a sidewalk on Newington Road using the links below.

Voice your support for safety and a sidewalk on Newington Road in one click by emailing and calling:

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